Reciprocating pump for marine toilets



May 26, 1970 P. BELDEN 3,514,231

REGIPROCATING PUMP FOR MARINE ,,TOILETS Fi 1ed Dec. 1, 1967 Fig.

74 m 32 J 95 Fig. 2 24 78 Q WILLIAM PERRY BELDEN INVENTOR.

BY WWW ma United States Patent 3,514,231 RECIPROCATING PUMP FOR MARINETOILETS Perry Belden, Millville, N.J.; Katherine Arnel Belden, executrixof said William Perry Belden, also known as Perry Belden, deceased FiledDec. 1, 1967, Ser. No. 687,369 Int. Cl. F0411 19/22; E03d 1/00 US. Cl.4l7565 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A commode water inlet supplyis delivered through a reciprocating pump section, the intake andexhaust ports of the pump include a circular diaphragm valve. A ringshaped slit is formed within the body of the diaphragm valve concentricwith the center thereof. A first washer is positioned against theoutward surface of the intake diaphragm valve and a second washer ispositioned against the inward surface of the exhaust diaphragm valvethereby rendering alternate valves operative during the intake andexhaust cycles.

The present invention relates to the field of reciprocating pumps andmore particularly to a check valve as sembly for insuring eflicientoperation during pump intake and exhaust cycles.

Prior art devices have utilized various check valve assemblies as wellas leather washers, packing nuts or glands which tend to dry up due toenvironmental conditions thereby requiring frequent replacement oradjustment. Prior check valve assemblies under some conditions decreasethe efliciency of the pumping operation. Accordingly, a flow ratethrough the pump is established which is below an optimum level.Mechanically speaking, the inefficient operation of these devices iscaused by the deteriorating efliciency of the check valve structuresthus permitting undesirable backflow through the pump. Moreover, priorcheck valve assemblies have been constructed in such a manner as topartially occlude the intake and exhaust ports which decreases theefficiency of the pump during its operation. Further, prior pumpstructures have been fabricated to include housings, and fittings of amaterial which require maintenance thereof such as frequent paintings.

In summary, the present invention includes a pump with an upper cylinderchamber containing intake and exhaust ports. Diaphragm valve members areinserted in these ports, each member including a circular slit therein.A blocking washer is positioned adjacent one surface of each diaphragmvalve member so that only one valve operates at a time. The diaphragmvalve members are fabricated from an inert resilient material whicheliminates the deterioration thereof. Thus, these members retain aflexible state thereby preventing backflow through the check valvemembers. The central portion of the pump includes a cylinder whichreceives a piston, the latter including a piston rod having a bearingand pack ing assembly fabricated from a low friction plastic. Thepresent pump assembly includes a housing, base and fittings made ofplastic fabricated 'by precision injection molding. This plasticmaterial eliminates frequent maintenance such as repainting of exteriorsurfaces. Accordingly, among the salient objects of the presentinvention are to provide:

A reciprocating pump for marine toilets which flushes faster and moreeasily and handles a relatively large quantity of water per stroke;

A reciprocating pump structure requiring a minimum of maintenance andwhich never needs painting, priming or lubrication;

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A check valve assembly which prevents backflow therethrough and Areciprocating pump including a piston rod bearing fabricated from a lowfriction plastic.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the present reciprocating pumpin conjunction with a marine toilet.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view along a plane passing throughsection 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded group perspective view illustrating the essentialcomponents of the pump water delivery assembly.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention and with reference tothe drawings, reference numeral 10 generally denotes a commode which issupplied with a flow of water via the reciprocating pump of the presentinvention. The base of the commode 10 communicates with a drain pipe 12which includes an appending attachment flange 14 usually fastened to thedeck of a boat or other suitable surface by means of appropriatefasteners 16. The reciprocating pump is generally denoted by thereference numeral 18 and is supplied with water 'by a supply pipe 20,the latter including a right angle elbow joint 22 communicating at theoutward end thereof with an enlarged hollow cylindrical sectionenclosing a shut off valve assembly of a conventional type controlled byan externally disposed valve handle 26.

A centrally apertured disk-like flange 28 appends from the outward edgeportion of the cylindrical section 24, the flange including smallerapertures 29 disposed peripherally therearound. The interior of theflange 28 includes a circular recess for accommodating a washer 30. Acircular diaphragm valve member 32 is positioned in an overlyingrelation with the inward surface of the washer 30. This valve memberincludes a disk-like body 34 including a circular slit 36 disposedconcentric with the center of the body 34 and extending along the majorportion of the periphery thereof thus leaving a connecting portiondefining a hinge to enable the central portion of body 34 to swing. Thecentral portion of the valve 32 includes an integrally formed raisedring surface 38 concentric with the center of the valve and disposedinwardly of the circular slit 36. The raised ring 38 rigidifies thevalve member so as to improve the valves mechanical response to pressureforces exerted thereon. A small rectangular locating tab 40 appends fromthe circumferential edge of the valve in adjacent relation to connectingportion 35 and provides a means for keying the position of the valvewithin the pump assembly as explained hereinafter so that the centralportion of the body 34 depends from the connecting portion 35 so thatgravity will assist the memory characteristics of the plastic materialof the body 34 to retain the central portion thereof normally adjacentthe washer or valve seat 30. A centrally apertured disklike flange 42depends from the body of the pump by means of a hollow cylindrical webmember 44, one end of which is integrally connected to the body 46 ofthe reciprocating pump 18, the other end of the web integrally connectedwith the inward circular surface of the disk flange 42. A bore 50 isformed concentrically with the central portion of the flange-webstructure and forms a left intake port 51 into the cylinder 52 of thepump as viewed in FIG. 2. A concentric circular recess 53 is disposedoutwardly of the central bore 50 and includes a rectangularly appendingrecess 54 for accommodating the rectangular tab 40 on the diaphragmvalve 32. The lateral- 1y outward surface of the flange 42 includesapertures 56 bored therethrough, the latter mating with the apertures 29formed within the inlet pipe flange 28. In the assembled position, thewasher 30 and the diaphragm check valve 32 are sandwiched between theconfronting recessed surfaces of the flanges 28 and 42 as shown in FIG.2 of the drawings. Suitable fasteners 57 are passed through'thecommunicating apertures in these flanges for holding them in abuttingengagement. As will be appreciated by view ing FIGS. 2 and 3 of thedrawings, a similarly constructed disk flange structure 43 appends fromthe body 46 of the pump on a diametrically opposite side and in axialalignment with the disk flange 42. This latter flange structure 43includes washer and diaphragm check valve members identical with thosepreviously mentioned. These components cooperate with a right outletport 51, both ports being in concentric alignment.

Referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, it is seen that the pump body 46includes a bored top surface 58, the bore extending longitudinally ofthe pump body 46 and receiving a plunger handle 60 therein. This handle'includes a knob-like member 62 characterized by a convex top surface 64and a circular planar base 66 which appends to a cylindrical shaft 68. Awasher 70 is positioned in concentric underlying relation with thebottom end portion of the handle shaft 68. A threaded bore 72 is formedwithin the interior portion of the shaft 68 extending upwardly from thebottom end portion for receiving a piston rod. A cylindrical recess 71is formed within the top 58 of the pump body, the central portion ofsaid recess communicates with a cylindrical bore orientetedlongitudinally through the top 58 of the pump. The base of the recess 71includes a resilient cylindrical grommet 76, the axis of the grommetbeing collinear with the axis of the pump body. A circular lock washer74 is disposed in overlying relation with the grommet, the combinationof washers 70, 74 and the grommet 76 providing a means for absorbingshock upon reciprocating contact of the plunger handle 60 With the top58 of the pump body as well as providing a pump seal. A rod 78 beingthreaded at the upward end thereof is concentrically disposed within thecylinder 52 of the pump. The threaded portion 80 is engaged with thethreaded aperture 72 in the plunger handle 60. A washer 82 isconcentrically mounted upon an intermediate length of the rod 78 andprovides a mechanical stop for the upward displacement of the rod. Therod 78 serves as a piston rod for the reciprocating pump. The lower endportion of the rod 78 includes a washer 84 concentrically mountedthereon and disposed in overlying relation with a cylindrical disk 86likewise concentrically disposed within the cylinder 52 andcharacterized by a diameter slightly less than the diameter of thecylinder. This disk serves as a piston for the pump. A concave recess 88is formed within the peripheral edge of the piston. An O-ring 90fabricated from a low friction plastic being inserted within the recessto form a tight seal between the walls of the cylinder 52 and the piston86. A washer'92 is disposed in underlying relation with the piston 88and maintained in an abutting relation thereto by means of a circularspring clip 94 mounted outwardly of the latter mentioned washer.

To explain the operation of the instant invention reference is made toFIG. 2 of thedrawing. In the figure, the piston is shown in the intakeposition. As the knob 62 is lifted, the piston compresses the fluidlocated in the upper portion of the chamber 52 thereby exerting apressure upon the left intake check valve 32. However, as clearly seenfrom FIG. 3 of the drawing, the valve will be unable to open due to therestraining surface of washer 30 which forms a valve seat. However, theright exhaust check valve 96 is free to move outwardly because of theabsence of a restraining surface on one outwardly confronting flangesurface 97 which includes a central bore of sufficiently large diameterpermitting passage of the central portion of the exhaust check valve 96into the bore thereby permitting the exit of fluid therethrough and intothe commode supply pipe section 102 shown in FIGURE 1.

The base portion of the pump body 46 includes a flapper valve ofconventional design disposed below the piston 86 and furtherdisposedbetween the commode drain pipe 12 and the pump outflow pipe 106,indicated in FIG. 1 of .the drawing. The flapper valve 104 indicateddiagrammatically in phantom lines in FIG. 1, cooperates with the checkvalves sothatduring a piston exhaust cycle, the flapper valve opensallowing drainage of the commode into 'the lower cylinder chamber 105 atthe same time that water flow is directed into the commode via pipesection 102. Likewise, during an, intake cycle, the fluid drained fromthe commode into the lower cylinder chamber 105 is exhausted through thepipe section 106 at the same time water flow is directed into the uppercylinder chamber 52 from the water supply pipe 20. In other words, thepump cylinder may betthought of as two cooperating chambers, the upperchamber 52 including intake and exhaust ports for supplying the commodewith a water supply while the lower chamber 105 includes intake andexhaust ports accomplishing the drainage of the commode. It isappreciated that the operation of the single piston 86 achievescooperating operations in the upper and lower chambers of the cylinder.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A reciprocating pump including an internally bored cylinder, a pistoninserted within said cylinder, means for reciprocating said piston,means for selectively supplying an upper cylinder chamber with fluid,means intermediate said supplying means and said cylinder chamber forcontrolling the supply of flow therein, means for selectively eXhaustingsaid fluid from said upper cylinder chamber, and means intermediate saidcylinder and said exhausting means for controlling the flow of fluidthereout, each of said means for controlling the flow of fluid to andfrom said cylinder including a circular diaphragm valve body,characterized by an arcuate slit formed through said valve body andconcentric with the circumference thereof, the periphery of said slitextending substantially around an entire circumference of said bodythereby forming two confronting slit ends, a portion of the diaphragmbody disposed between said ends serving as a hinge for a central portionof the valve enclosed inwardly of said slit, said central portionserving as a valve flap, a small tab appending from the peripheral edgeof the valve body, said central portion of said valve body including aringlike rib. concentric with the center of said valve body andappending from both circular surfaces thereof, said means forcontrolling the supply flow further including a washer member disposedin an outwardly overlying relation with said valve body, said washercharacterized by a central aperture therethrough, the diameter of saidaperture being smaller than the diameter of said flap and wherein saidmeans for supplying said cylinder with fluid includes a separablefitting characterized by a recessed interior surface for retaining saidmeans for controlling the supply flow perpendicularly of said flow, saidrecess further including a portion for receiving said valve body tab,said recess communicating with an inward bore of larger diameter thanthe diameter of said flap.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means forregulating the exhausting flow includes a washer memberv disposed in aninwardly overlying relation with said valve body, said Washercharacterized by a central aperture therethrough, the diameter of saidaperture being 6 smaller than the diameter of said flap and wherein said289,210 11/1883 Bishop 4-90 means for exhausting said fluid from saidcylinder further 338,609 3/ 1886 Nysewander 137-525.7 includes aseparable fitting characterized by a recessed in- 2,336,640 12/1943Gavin 103-153 terior surface for retaining said means for regulating the3,154,796 11/ 1964 Bruce 4-90 exhaust flow perpendicularly of said flow,said recess fur- 5 112,060 2/1871 Marchant 103-167 ther including aportion adapted to receive said valve body tab, said recesscommunicating with an outward bore of FOREIGN PATENTS larger diameterthan the diameter of said flap. 457,220 11/1936 Great Britain ReferencesCited 10 HENRY F. RADUAZO, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS231,522 8/1880 Barber 137--52s.7

254,227 2/1882 Martin 137-55] 137-525.7; 4-10; 417-566

